Saturday, February 2, 2013

Photos: A-10: From Trainer to Storm Chaser

by Senior Airman Timothy Moore355th Figther Wing Public Affairs

An A-10A Thunderbolt sits under a maintenance hangar on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Jan. 24, 2013. This particular A-10, tail number 174, was used as a trainer for loading munitions on D-M and will now be used to track storms. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Timothy Moore)Hi-res

Note: Pictured is A-10A 79-0174.

1/31/2013 - DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- While most aircrafts try to avoid torms, the 309th Aircraft Maintenance and Regeneration Group is finishing the first transition of preparing an A-10A Thunderbolt to do just the opposite: fly into the storms!

Kenneth Thompson, 576th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Squadron aircraft mechanic, aligns a portion of the pre-cooler ram air duct onto the top of an A-10A Thunderbolt on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Jan. 23, 2013. The 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group is regenerating the aircraft, which was used as a trainer for munitions load crews, so that it can be converted into a storm chaser. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Timothy Moore)Hi-res

The gun bay of an A-10A Thunderbolt is open under a maintenance hangar on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Jan. 24, 2013. Once the A-10, tail number 174, is converted into a storm chaser the former gun bay will house computer equipment used to track storms. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Timothy Moore)Hi-res

Dedicated in Love

This blog is dedicated to Marina Naumann, my latest female partner who died after incurable pancreas cancer on June 17, 2010, just only a half year after diagnosis. Marina was the second true wife in my life, and she always supported my long-year enthusiastic research work on the Hog, especially since the beginning of operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Rest in peace, Marina.